Distance-fuse for projectiles or torpedoes.



. Patgnteq June Il, man

s. KLuMAK. Y Y Lmsmwca sus: For:A PnoJecmEs on romances.

(Applicatinn Bled Feb. 15, 1900.)

2 Sheets--Shee -I.

'A (up nodal.)

un. s7s,|39. Patented :une u, lm.; G. KLUMAK.

,nesmeac'a Fuse FonPRoJEcTlu-:s on TonP-gno'es.

(Application med-Feb. 15, 1900.1

.2 Sheetsf-Sheet 2.

(liu Nudel.)

ijisirnn tis-raras iarnnr @risica GZA. KLUMK, O F VENNA, AUSTRlA-HUNGARY.

ZSTANCFUSY FR PROJECTELES CR TORPEDOES.

-SPECFCTION forming part of Letters 'Patent No. 676,139, dated June 11, 1901.

Application filed February 15,1900. Serial No. 5,338. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom, it' 77mg/ concern:

Be it known that l, GZA KLUMAK,a subject of the Emperor of Austria-Hungary, residing at Vienna, in the Province of Lower Austria,

5 in the Empire of Austria-Hungary, have invented certain new and useful Improvements iu Distance-Fuses for Projectiles or Torpedoes; and l do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the 1o invention, such as will enable others skilled .inv the art to which it appertains to malte and `use. the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters and iiguresof reference marked thereon, which form i5 a part of this speciiication.

This invention relates to/mechanically-opera-ted distance-fuses in which the explosive projectile or torpedo is connected to a spindle which is rotated by a vane-wheel acted upon zo by the resistance ot' the air or water and which 25 structed do not full the necessary conditions-namely, that the fuse Shall ettect the ring of the explosive charge in a perfectly reliable manner after having passed through the enact distance required. The cause of 3o this is that, on the one hand, the vane-wheel and the mechanism actuated thereby are made too heavy or are so arranged that with the great speed of rotation of the vane-wheel a considerable braking action is produced in 35 consequence of the trictional resistance,

whereby the release of the tiring-pin is retarded. On the other hand, the initial concussion to which the projectile is subjected on tiring has a detrimental action upon either 4o the .tiring-pin or the train ofwheels or on the vane-wheel or on all of these combined,so that either the explosion occurs at the wrong time or locality or does not occur at all.

The present invention has for its objecta 45 distance-fuse in which these defects are ob-` viated by arranging` the percussive tiring-pin in the continuation of the axis of the vanewheel and in the center line between the train of wheels, which 'is arranged in stages sym- 5o metrically on each side oi such centerline,

so as to distribute the masses uniformly. The percussion iiring-piu is connected with such train by means of a coupling which can be automatically disengaged, so that it revolves both when setting the fuse to the required distance and when the vane-wheel rotates, at which time it bears with a lateral projection at its lower end upon a supportingpiece provided with a notch. The vane-Wheel is made as light as possible and its spindle is carried in such manner that friction is reduced to a great extent. This rrangement allows of the use of a very strong spring for propelling the percussive iringpin and insures a perfectly uniform motion of the train of wheels, while at the same time it reduces to a minimum the prejudicial action of the initial concussion.

The accompanying drawings show by way of example a distance-fuse constructed according to this invention (and which canalso act as a percussive fuse) as applied to an explosive projectile.

Figure l shows a vertical section of the pr0 jectile with its fuse, the transmission mechanism being shown diagrammatically. Fig. 2 shows an external View of the mechanism for setting the fuse to the required distance. Fig. 3 is a cross-section on line X X, Fig. l. Fig. e is an enlarged vertical section of the t'use mechanism, together with the Vanewheel. l i

The fuse consists ot` a screwed headpiece a, xed in the projectile to be exploded, (grenade, shrapnel, torpedo, &c.,) in the enlarged upper end ot' which head are inserted the socket-pieces b and c, which are secured by the screw-cap d. The socket-piece b is'fixed in the head c, while the upper socket-piece c can be rotated. To the socket I) is screwed a tube c, formed in two parts, which are con-v nected together by theperforated support f ot' the percussion-pin. The lower end of'fthe tube e carries a lperforatedvnozzlepiece g, which projects downintolchamber h, containing the explosive charge, and inthis nozzlepiece is introduced the firing-tube i', held in position by riveting over its lower end." In the upper end of the tube t' is inserted the igniting-pelletj, `which is held in position by a cap 7e.' The threaded projection ofthe socketpiece band the supportf have the .percussionpin Z passing through them, on which acts the propelling-spring m. When the latter is comressed, the percussion-pin rests withits proection n upon the supportf.. This basal notch ext-ending through it, Figs.` 1 and 3., through fhich the projection 'rt of the percussion-piu an pass wheuthe pin l has been A"turned into he position iii-.which 'n faces-5o, when the pin Z vill be thrown back by thesrspring, against the gnitingjpellet. Thepercussion-pinl is coniected by a coupling p, comprising two disks, ne of which (here shown as the lower one) :arries two pins 20, that enter holes 21 in the ther disk, that can be automatically disenagedjwith the spindle q1, Figs.v l and 4, of the otatin'g mechanism'. vThis rotating mechansm, which is contained in the socket-piece c, :onsists of a series of toothed wheels 1 to 1.6, nennt'ed'betweenl bearing-pieces fr, as shown it'Fig. 4. The first of such wheels 1 isxed to the'spindle q and thela'st,16, upon the driving-spindle s.v Theiatter carries the vanewheel t, which during the fiightof the projectile is rotated bythe resisting medium, (air or water.) By means of the Atrain of wheels 1 to 16 this rotation is transmitted in a greatlyretarded manner to the spindleq and percussion-pin in order that the release of the latter may be effected on reaching a predetermined point of the projectiles flight. The vane-l Wheel t is inclosed in a casing u, fixed to the socket-piece c, in which casing'are` formed openings fu, through which the air or water escapcsafter having acted upon the Vanewheel. lA cap w, secured by' a bayonet-joint on the casing u, closes the access to the vane- Wheel, inA which cap isv provided apin that engages with the vane-wheel so as t-ofpreven't its rotation. AFor facilitating the accurate setting of the. fuse the socket-piece c is .formed polygonal externally for the reception of a spanner,andit is-provided with a pointer y, the motion of which islimited by -Fig.2, on the screw-cap CZ, which carries the setting-scale.

Normally the wing or projection n on the firing-pin lis seated on 'the face of the'stop and guide sleeve f out of register with its slot o, and from what has been said it is obvious that saidvwi' into register with said slot by a complete or a fractional revolution ot the firing-pin, the maximum revolution ofthe said ring-pin being determined 'by -the abutment-pins .e on graduated screw caprl. Ifpointer y lies against the left-hand abutment-pin @Fig- 9,

thezwing or projection non the firing-pin Z `will lie on the lower side of the sioto, Fig. 3,.'

so that a complete revolution of the firingpin willbe necessary-to register with slot o, at which time the point-er y would lie i -pin Obviously by 'revolving sleeve c in the directionof rotation 'of the vane-spindle s the iring-pin is similarly revolved from the;

'lower edgel of slot o, Fig. 3, aroundtoward its upper edge,.thereby reducing to that c2.- tent the extent ^ofrotation of Athciiring-pin necessary to bring its projection aiuto registhe stops a,

ng or projectionmay'be brought bringsaid Wing into4 againstthe right-hand abutmcntter with slot 0,"and consequently determin ing the time or the distance at which the projectile iste justment or timing of the action ofthe tiringpin the whole clock-train and-'vatte are moved' through the desired fare; but the vane t is held againstv independent rotation during such adjustment-and 'while the shell or the like is stored by the stop-pin on cap w to prevent accidental rotation of the Vane and explosion of the shell. This cap and pinis removed before loading the projectile'inte the gun. j

It the described dist-ance-fuseisto be used asa percussion-fuse, the cap w is not removed,` so that on the projectile striking the igniting-tube t is projected forward out of the nozzle g bythe impact, causing the ig-v niting-pelletj tostrike against theiiring-pin Z. The same action 4will take place if the time or distance fuse mechanism should net aet .properly for releasing the firing-pin.

, 1. The combination witha projectile, a percussion-primer arrangedaxially therein, a spring-propelled.'firing-pin in line with said primer and a locking device lockingsaid pin against the action of its spring and adapted to release .the pin when rotated; of a timin g mechanism comprising a driving-spindle carrying awind-drivcn vane and a train of transmittin-g-gearing the projectile and the last element thereof in line anddetachably connected with the {iring-pi'n, for the purpose set forth.

A2'. The combination with a projectile, a percus'sion-primer spring-'propelled iiringpin in line with said primer and a locking device locking said pin against thev action of its spring and adapted to release the pin when rotated; Ilof a timing-y train oli" gearing comprising a drivin g-spindle in` line with the tiring-pin and carrying a wind-'driven Vane, a4 driving-pinion on said spindle, transmittingpinions inline with the driving-pinion, the lastet said pinions detachably connected with the iringpin, and intermediate transmitting-gearing arranged alternately on loppositelsides of the central pinions, for the purposes set forth.

3'. The combination with a projectile provided with a time-train chamber in its head, a

' time-train' of gearing therein balanced about the axis of the projectile, -a filler for said chamber in which said time-train is arranged, a

wind-driven. vane for operating the time-train` and a percussion-primer arranged axially in the projectile; of a firing-pin interposed be-` tween said primer and the time-train and rotatably and detachably con nected' with the latter; and a locking dcvicelocking said pin against the action of its spr-ing and adapted to release said pin when rotated, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

ei. The combination with a projectile provided in4 its head with a chamber closed :it

be exploded. During this aid-- arranged axially therein, a

one end, means for revolving sa l chamber, j

mais@ a driving-spindle carrying a Wind-driven vane at enter end and a driving-pinien at its inner end Within said chamber, said spindle arranged axially of tne projeetile, transmitting spindles and pinions in line with said bearings for spindles of the trans gearing and inolosing the same; of roaring pre ielled percussion firing-pin in lineivitfo driving-spin die and detaeiialilv Connected the spindle of the last of -tne series of aitting-pinions, a primer in line vitii pin and a locking device for leekie pin against the stress ot its spring f pied to release 'said pin when the lattrain, for ille purset forth. 'Ene combination with a projectile, a peri d concussion prinir arr d axi- Vim a spring-propelled fr til. said primerv and a looking device 'd firing-pin against tne f @tion of and adapted 1to-release said pin ^vd; et a timing-trein of gearing 'a driving-spindle ryinga Windspindles earrying transmittinge. ri ing and transmitting spier line writ-'n tile firing-pin and the latter i connected with the spindle of the tingpinions, in-

" i' 1ranged nl "ne central tor timing tube arranged axially therein, a primer at the inner end of said tube, spaced guide-sleeves in said tube, a firing-pin guided in said sleeves 'in line with the primer and provided with a wing n, the inner sleeve having a slot o, and a driving-spring abuttingl against the other guide, and a collar on said iirin'g-pin in coinbination with a movable casingcarrying a pointer adapted to travel over a fixed scale, retarfiling-gearing mounted in the casing, an

actuating-'vane for said gearing, a separable connection between the gearing and ,tiringpin, and looking device looking the 'vane and gearing against rotation independentlgT of the casing, substantially as and for the purpose eet forth.

7. The lcombination with the springectnated .firing-pin provided with the wing n, its slotted gnide and stop-sleevef, a revoluble easing carrying a pointer y, a retarding transmitting-gearing therein, a driving-vane for said gearing and a separable connection between the latter and the firing-pin; of a iixed graduated scale over which the aforesaid pointer travels, a stop at either end efsaid scale, the latter and its stops arranged relatively to the slot in a gnideesleeve j" as described, and means for temporarily looking the vane and mechanism driven thereby against rotation independently oi their casing, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

in testimony that l claixn the foregoing as my invention l have signed my naine in presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

oizn KLUMAH. i

",Vi tn esses Anvns'ro S. Hoonn, AUGUST FUGGER. 

